Desertification: Sokoto to Plant 1m Trees

Speaking at Bissalam village, Dange-Shuni Local Government of the state, at the
launching of the 2016 Tree Planting Campaign Tuesday, Tambuwal said among the trees included are moringa oleifera, baobab, mango, eucalyptus, cashew, neem, pawpaw and tamarind.

“These tree seedlings will be distributed free to the people in the 23 local governments across the state. Apart from serving some economic purposes, these trees will help in our reafforestation efforts in the state.

“This is very crucial as such efforts are aimed at curbing the menace of the obnoxious perennial desert encroachment, as well as mitigating the impact of global warming,” he added.

Tambuwal said global warming had led to the drastic reduction of rainfall and the attendant consequences of flood, among other destructive natural phenomena.

He added that his administration had revamped the state shelterbelt project, while the federal government’s Great Green Wall Project was being successfully implemented in the state.

He announced that, all public officials in the state had been directed to immediately plant trees in their residences, offices and farms.

“All public officials including myself and my Deputy will plant theirs immediately and nurture them. I will start by inspecting the trees to be planted by my Deputy in
his farm, before I invite all of you to do same in my farm.

“I have also been regrettably and reliably informed that some publicofficials were in the habit of ordering the indiscriminate felling of trees. I have directed that, such unpatriotic officials should henceforth desist from such dastardly acts, or face inevitable sanctions.”

The State Environment Commissioner, Alhaji Bello Sifawa and the Chairman of Dange-Shuni Local Government, Alhaji Mode Dantassallah, commended Tambuwal for according the environment sector the priority attention it deserved.